Posted by kid47 on April 23, 2001, at 10:04:29
In reply to Longterm safety of SSRI's and other psych. drugs, posted by Ryan on April 22, 2001, at 21:56:01
> I have social phobia, major depression, and ocd. I've used Effexor XR, Zoloft, Gabitril, Klonopin, Adderall, Paxil, Buspar and Celexa.
> Effexor worked best and controlled more symptoms than anything else. I used 300mg. per day. My problem is that I am afraid to take any medication anymore. I read a study that stated that Prozac, Zoloft, Pondimin, and Meridia change the shape of seretonin receptors in the brains of rats after only 14 days of administration of extremely high doses. It isn't known if these changes are permanent or harmful. I'm angry that this study wasn't done BEFORE the drugs were released. I thought these studies were done before the drugs are cleared by the FDA. I'm now scared of taking ANYTHING because of this. If anyone knows of other research on this subject or other ways of treating my problems PLEASE post.
Hi Ryan. I understand your concern about taking meds. I also have taken lots of different mood altering drugs some legal some not. I am so much better off with these meds (the legal ones) & can enjoy a fairly "normal" existence which I could not have without them. I try not to look to far ahead & am most content just taking it "a day at a time".The first thing I check about drug studies is who is paying for it. When the sugar industry finances a study to determine if "Nutra sweet" sugar substitute causes cancer, I am going to be a little suspect of the results. Also comparing results of a rat given 5 times it's body weight daily of a certain drug & that of a human consuming a far more reasonable dose might prove tricky. I am glad testing continues & think continuing research is our best hope but I do take the results of these studies with a grain of salt.
If you feel you are better off with the meds than by all means continue taking them. Please don't let
sensational headlines & fishing expedition type studies scare you away from the very thing that can make life worth living. Take care
poster:kid47
thread:1356
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20010417/msgs/60843.html